Chicago, IL

[Kayce]

On 3/29/2017 at 1:14 AM, ayim93 said:

I have recently been accepted into the Master's program for Rhetoric, Writing, and Discourse at Depaul University in Chicago.  I am looking at living in Lincoln Park or other surrounding neighborhoods.   Are there any areas that people would recommend that are affordable and is pretty close to Lincoln Park?

Other people gave good advice but I'm going to DePaul too! Woot woot!

[ayim93]

22 hours ago, Kayce said:

Other people gave good advice but I'm going to DePaul too! Woot woot!

Congratulations :).    Good luck with your program this fall. 

 

[LoveMysterious]

On 4/1/2017 at 7:27 AM, lorear2 said:

Hi All,

I've been accepted to UIC to get my PhD in Epidemiology. I'm vaguely familiar with the city based on a few visits, but I'm still kind of iffy on the housing situation. I've heard that there are some good realtor type services where the apartments pay the realtors their commission/fee. Does anyone have one they can recommend?

Hey! I'm also heading to UIC in the Fall for my PhD (Microbiology & Immunology). Do you have any insight regarding living near campus? Or is the Little Italy/Med district part of town considered sketchy? I feel totally clueless, lol :p. 

[brenbren12]

Hi everyone! So I am going to UIC in the fall, however, I am planning to move next month as I'm taking one more course to fulfill my prerequisites. Ideally I want to live close to UIC but I've been flexible since my budget is pretty low. I found a sublease for the summer that would allow me to move in soon, not have to move all my stuff and then would give me time to look for another place/roommate. The apartment is in Hyde Park right near the UC law school. I did a ton of reading on Hyde Park and it sounds nice. However, everything I read kept saying to stay away from south of the Midway. This place is exactly south of the midway, between 60th and 61st. How is this area? I went to undergrad at a very urban campus so I understand the basic street smarts of living in these areas. I never once felt unsafe living in an urban area. It's still a little nerve wracking without seeing the place first!

Also...since I will need to commute to UIC (just one day a week this summer), I plan on bringing my car. How accessible is it to 1) have a car in Hyde Park 2) get into the city 3) park in the city (if I want to visit friends in Lincoln Park or Lake View, for example) I was not planning on bringing my car but don't really want to spend all my time commuting! 

thanks! 

[tonydoesmovie]

1 hour ago, brenbren12 said:

Hi everyone! So I am going to UIC in the fall, however, I am planning to move next month as I'm taking one more course to fulfill my prerequisites. Ideally I want to live close to UIC but I've been flexible since my budget is pretty low. I found a sublease for the summer that would allow me to move in soon, not have to move all my stuff and then would give me time to look for another place/roommate. The apartment is in Hyde Park right near the UC law school. I did a ton of reading on Hyde Park and it sounds nice. However, everything I read kept saying to stay away from south of the Midway. This place is exactly south of the midway, between 60th and 61st. How is this area? I went to undergrad at a very urban campus so I understand the basic street smarts of living in these areas. I never once felt unsafe living in an urban area. It's still a little nerve wracking without seeing the place first!

Also...since I will need to commute to UIC (just one day a week this summer), I plan on bringing my car. How accessible is it to 1) have a car in Hyde Park 2) get into the city 3) park in the city (if I want to visit friends in Lincoln Park or Lake View, for example) I was not planning on bringing my car but don't really want to spend all my time commuting! 

thanks! 

Not a local, so take with a grain of salt:

Hyde Park is not exactly south of Midway - that said, I've heard and been told by Lyft drivers the same - use your head and listen to your gut about the areas you're in when you're that far south. Hyde Park is good, safe, and relatively inexpensive neighborhood to live.

From my time in Hyde Park, it seems cars are pretty common - it isn't as "city" as the Loop. However, because Hyde Park is a ways off any L-stop, so consider taking the bus up to the city or to an L-stop. Also, you could consider utilizing the Metra. From talking to Lyft drivers and locals, if you don't have to drive (and moreover park) in the city, don't. Lincoln Park and Lake View are a simple ride up the Red Line. The ride, I would imagine, would be just as time consuming as driving and parking (if not less so) and more cost effective - as a student, you will be given (rather you'll have to pick it up) a U-Pass which you pay for in your student fees to travel the L "free" of charge - this would not be effective until Fall semester though, although you could request to purchase it for the summer term.

Hope this helps and that others can confirm (or refute!).

[archi]

3 hours ago, brenbren12 said:

I did a ton of reading on Hyde Park and it sounds nice. However, everything I read kept saying to stay away from south of the Midway. This place is exactly south of the midway, between 60th and 61st. How is this area?

Hi! I live in Chicago now and lived in Hyde Park for a while (now I'm on the north side) and wanted to put a 2017 era update to the eternal "south of the midway" question on the record here, since it seems to come up a lot when discussing Hyde Park. My understanding is "don't go south of the midway" was a commonly given guideline for many years, but it hasn't really been accurate since around 2010 when a large undergrad dorm opened at Ellis and 61st. Now, most of the 60th/61st area is university buildings, including housing, the law school, and the arts center and campus security patrols down to 64th. If you wanted to draw a new line now, it's probably 63rd, conservatively. 

For your other questions: A lot of people in Hyde Park have cars, and street parking is manageable. (Free) parking elsewhere in the city varies from neighborhood to neighborhood and is predictably harder in the loop and other dense areas. Hyde Park is unfortunately a bit removed from convenient public transit, you're mainly reliant on buses and metra. You can get into the loop in about 20-30 minutes, but over to UIC would be at least an hour and a lot of transfers- you'd probably want a car. Hyde Park in general is a nice neighborhood, but if you're not UChicago affiliated or going directly into the loop it can be hard. For a short term summer sublet you'll probably do fine but quickly realize it's easier to be somewhere else. 

People with questions about travel times in general- google maps is really accurate now for transit and traffic. Put in your commute at the hours you'd be doing it to see what it would look like (and on the CTA add 10 minutes for delays). Chicago is big! I commute 45 minutes each way and that's not exceptional. 

If people have other questions about apartment hunting ask away. 

(Also, to politely disagree with the above re: travel times Hyde Park- Lakeview, I live in Lakeview and have a good friend in Hyde Park, it takes me 1 hr 15 minutes on the CTA to get to her, and it takes her 25-35 minutes to drive to me including parking) 

Edited April 24, 2017 by clarchibald
correction to travel times

[brenbren12]

48 minutes ago, clarchibald said:

Hi! I live in Chicago now and lived in Hyde Park for a while (now I'm on the north side) and wanted to put a 2017 era update to the eternal "south of the midway" question on the record here, since it seems to come up a lot when discussing Hyde Park. My understanding is "don't go south of the midway" was a commonly given guideline for many years, but it hasn't really been accurate since around 2010 when a large undergrad dorm opened at Ellis and 61st. Now, most of the 60th/61st area is university buildings, including housing, the law school, and the arts center and campus security patrols down to 64th. If you wanted to draw a new line now, it's probably 63rd, conservatively. 

For your other questions: A lot of people in Hyde Park have cars, and street parking is manageable. (Free) parking elsewhere in the city varies from neighborhood to neighborhood and is predictably harder in the loop and other dense areas. Hyde Park is unfortunately a bit removed from convenient public transit, you're mainly reliant on buses and metra. You can get into the loop in about 20-30 minutes, but over to UIC would be at least an hour and a lot of transfers- you'd probably want a car. Hyde Park in general is a nice neighborhood, but if you're not UChicago affiliated or going directly into the loop it can be hard. For a short term summer sublet you'll probably do fine but quickly realize it's easier to be somewhere else. 

People with questions about travel times in general- google maps is really accurate now for transit and traffic. Put in your commute at the hours you'd be doing it to see what it would look like (and on the CTA add 10 minutes for delays). Chicago is big! I commute 45 minutes each way and that's not exceptional. 

If people have other questions about apartment hunting ask away. 

(Also, to politely disagree with the above re: travel times Hyde Park- Lakeview, I live in Lakeview and have a good friend in Hyde Park, it takes me 1 hr 15 minutes on the CTA to get to her, and it takes her 25-35 minutes to drive to me including parking) 

Thank you! This was the kind of information I was hoping to get! I figured by some of the stuff I read that the suggestions to not live south of midway was inaccurate but wanted to still ask. 

I'm definitely okay bringing my car (even if it wasn't in my original plan). I think I also have to be okay with being further away from friends (who all have well paying jobs and can afford to live in more expensive areas). Hopefully once I get there it'll be easier to find a place/roommate (closer UIC) than it has been from far away. 

[archi]

21 hours ago, brenbren12 said:

Thank you! This was the kind of information I was hoping to get!

Glad to help! If you end up moving in there, you'll also be pretty close to the 61st St Farmers Market, which imo is one of the better ones in the city. I second the Hyde Park Produce love above too- I miss being able to buy fresh herbs by weight instead of prepackaged.

Also, it is definitely easier to find apartments when you can look in person- in my experience, a lot of the online listings you can easily find are big management companies kind of spamming craigslist, apartments.com, etc. whereas smaller management companies/family owned buildings/condo rentals will only post on their own website or even only put a sign out in front. If you have time to wander around neighborhoods you're interested in looking for rent signs and see places in person, you can find some good deals- even in more expensive areas. 

Edited April 25, 2017 by clarchibald

[brenbren12]

1 hour ago, clarchibald said:

Glad to help! If you end up moving in there, you'll also be pretty close to the 61st St Farmers Market, which imo is one of the better ones in the city. I second the Hyde Park Produce love above too- I miss being able to buy fresh herbs by weight instead of prepackaged.

Also, it is definitely easier to find apartments when you can look in person- in my experience, a lot of the online listings you can easily find are big management companies kind of spamming craigslist, apartments.com, etc. whereas smaller management companies/family owned buildings/condo rentals will only post on their own website or even only put a sign out in front. If you have time to wander around neighborhoods you're interested in looking for rent signs and see places in person, you can find some good deals- even in more expensive areas. 

Oh good to know! I love a good farmers market! Yes...I've found a lot of scams. I also get someone not wanting to sign a lease with someone they've never met in person. 

[foodnerd]

On 3/27/2017 at 0:31 PM, Oddich55 said:

Hmm. Uptown isn't too bad, but is a little sketchy. I live right north of it in Edgewater. If you're going to UIC - Uptown is going to be a pain in the ass without a car (you'll have to take the red line into the loop and the blue line west). If you're looking for a hip area that's easy to get to UIC, I would pick Logan Square or Wicker Park (but they are a little on the pricier side). I've been living in Chicago for most of my life, so if you have any questions - let me know =)

I live in Logan Square right now and I feel like the commute down to UIC would get old really fast. Logan is a great neighborhood and grad students do live here I just imagine it would be a hassssssle, but if you're not commuting during rush hours it wouldn't be as bad...

[Residuals]

On 3/22/2017 at 3:05 PM, tonydoesmovie said:

Also, if any are interested, Chicago Tribune runs a crime tracker on their site here.

Full of great breakdowns and maps so that those of us unfamiliar with the area can try to better understand the onslaught of neighborhoods around beautiful Chicago. It also helps to destigmatizes (or rather put in perspective) the "unsafe" and "dangerous" tag Chicago often receives. As a Baltimore native, I can greatly appreciate this.

I often read on various forums that Hyde Park is unsafe. I am amazed with the urban legend about UChicago and Hyde Park. Between the Chicago Police and UChicago Police, Hyde Park has one of the highest police per capita in the US. In terms of actual crime, there is a great site of statistics by university at the US Department of Education (https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/). The data are in the form of crime incidences (of various categories) per 1000 students. Folks may be surprised to find that UChicago is one of the safest universities. For fun, compare UChicago versus Stanford, Berkeley, Harvard, etc. You will find that UChicago is pretty much uniformly less than all these schools. Number of incidents of sexual crimes, burglaries are on the order of 3 to 5 times higher at schools like Stanford, Berkeley, Harvard than UChicago.

With this said, with any urban institution, there are areas and times that would be stupid to venture into. When you live in Hyde Park, it is pretty obvious what boundaries you don't want to cross especially in the dark hours.

[raul.carmo]

Hey guys, I was wondering if it's possible to live decently through a PhD in Chicago with ~2k USD per month, and if possible, how the condition will probably be like (sharing a room, sharing an apartment, living by yourself etc).

[emhafe]

Hello! I moved here in August and live on about $1,700 a month. Definitely not the easiest, but totally possible. I currently have roommates but want to live alone next year, so I'm willing to pay extra. You can find studios around $750-850 and some one bedrooms around $900 in the outer edges of the city. I prefer the northern part of the city anyways. However, I did move from Pittsburgh where the cost of living is significantly lower, so it was a sad change. Taxes on groceries and stuff like that are also fairly high. 

[narple]

On 1/11/2018 at 7:40 AM, raul.carmo said:

Hey guys, I was wondering if it's possible to live decently through a PhD in Chicago with ~2k USD per month, and if possible, how the condition will probably be like (sharing a room, sharing an apartment, living by yourself etc).

I am in Hyde Park (not the cheapest not the most expensive neighborhood) and do that easily, but it depends on how much you eat out/drink/spend on extra stuff. In college housing areas like HP a big tip is to see if you can post-pone or move up your move-in date to be off the university move-in schedule.  Rent prices gone up $100-300 if you have a desired move-in date between June and September. My friend and I looked at two apartments with the exact same 2-bedroom layout & upgrades  (kitchen, dishwasher, and bath) but one had a sept 1 move-in date at $750/month and the other, an Oct 1 move-in at $650 with better light. It’s easy to find temporary housing if you’re willing to move twice and look to find cheaper housing. If you’re part of the U Chicago community (you have an email) then you can also access the Marketplace which is the most efficient place to find listings in HP area.

[KrmDePaul]

I will be attending DePaul in the Spring, and my program is based at the Loop Campus. I will be commuting by bike and public transit. There are some cheap, large, cat-friendly apartments in North Lawndale, which is quite close to the Loop. However, I've been reading online that North Lawndale is one of the worst parts of the city. I'm used to living in fairly unsafe areas, such as South Africa and West Oakland, CA. What I've been reading about North Lawndale seems very intense, but I also think people tend to be a bit dramatic when discussing crime in Chicago. Is there anyone who is used to living in places that are a bit rough around the edges able to give me a perspective on North Lawndale? Is the cheaper rent and shorter commute worth it?

[latemeg]

12 hours ago, KrmDePaul said:

I will be attending DePaul in the Spring, and my program is based at the Loop Campus. I will be commuting by bike and public transit. There are some cheap, large, cat-friendly apartments in North Lawndale, which is quite close to the Loop. However, I've been reading online that North Lawndale is one of the worst parts of the city. I'm used to living in fairly unsafe areas, such as South Africa and West Oakland, CA. What I've been reading about North Lawndale seems very intense, but I also think people tend to be a bit dramatic when discussing crime in Chicago. Is there anyone who is used to living in places that are a bit rough around the edges able to give me a perspective on North Lawndale? Is the cheaper rent and shorter commute worth it?

I've lived in Chicago for a couple years now (congrats on DePaul, I love my school!) and agree that people are kind of dramatic--with one caveat. The time you spend in areas with both excessive crime and excessive police (like North Lawndale) does significantly increase the likelihood of your being victim to a crime, whether it be on purpose (muggings outside CTA stations) or accidental (witnessing or becoming involved in a crime that doesn't involve you). What kind of budget are you looking for? In Chicago, there are a good deal of apartments in areas that are safer that can accommodate your need for space and pet friendliness. If you don't mind living further from transit, check Hermosa Park and Humboldt Park; remember that you can also take Metra downtown from stops throughout the city, though it isn't as frequent as the CTA. As a rule of thumb, if you can get 3-4 roommates in a 4-5 bedroom apartment, you're gonna be paying much less and can stay in a safer area. 

[E-P]

14 hours ago, KrmDePaul said:

I will be attending DePaul in the Spring, and my program is based at the Loop Campus. I will be commuting by bike and public transit. There are some cheap, large, cat-friendly apartments in North Lawndale, which is quite close to the Loop. However, I've been reading online that North Lawndale is one of the worst parts of the city. I'm used to living in fairly unsafe areas, such as South Africa and West Oakland, CA. What I've been reading about North Lawndale seems very intense, but I also think people tend to be a bit dramatic when discussing crime in Chicago. Is there anyone who is used to living in places that are a bit rough around the edges able to give me a perspective on North Lawndale? Is the cheaper rent and shorter commute worth it?

 

I can't speak to South Africa or West Oakland, but I would not recommend living in North Lawndale.  Here's an interactive crime map so you can look at the types of crimes in that area:

https://data.cityofchicago.org/Public-Safety/Crimes-Map/dfnk-7re6/data

 

In general, I would suggest living a little further away, but close to the train line.  You'll probably be looking at Roger's Park, which is on the north side of the area, or somewhere south of there.  Here's the search string that I used on Trulia.  Compare available apartments against the crime map.  Generally, the west side and south side are the more dicey neighborhoods.  Feel free to tag me if there's a specific neighborhood you'd like my 2 cents on.

[narple]

On 2/10/2018 at 11:12 PM, KrmDePaul said:

I will be attending DePaul in the Spring, and my program is based at the Loop Campus. I will be commuting by bike and public transit. There are some cheap, large, cat-friendly apartments in North Lawndale, which is quite close to the Loop. However, I've been reading online that North Lawndale is one of the worst parts of the city. I'm used to living in fairly unsafe areas, such as South Africa and West Oakland, CA. What I've been reading about North Lawndale seems very intense, but I also think people tend to be a bit dramatic when discussing crime in Chicago. Is there anyone who is used to living in places that are a bit rough around the edges able to give me a perspective on North Lawndale? Is the cheaper rent and shorter commute worth it?

Agree with latemeg. Would also say that depending on budget West Pilsen is a good in between (and cheaper that a lot of Pilsen). My sister lives in Bridgeport (just south of the river from Pilsen) not convenient for transit (but biking is a solid option). It's more affordable than a lot of areas and has a nice community feel.

[Bschaefer]

Jumping on the bandwagon, I know Chicago is a queer friendly city, but is there any advice where to live based on that information? where not to got? etc. Thanks! 

[emjayco]

I'll likely by attending UIC in the fall and have friends all over the city. I love a lot of their neighborhoods, especially on the northern side of the city, but in terms of convenience and affordability, we will be moving to Pilsen. There are amazing restaurants and bars, but also a less crowded and more comfortable atmosphere. I also like that good chunks of it are not completely gentrified. It reminds me a lot of where we live now.

[narple]

On 2/21/2018 at 11:02 AM, Bschaefer said:

Jumping on the bandwagon, I know Chicago is a queer friendly city, but is there any advice where to live based on that information? where not to got? etc. Thanks! 

Boystown is the “traditional” queer neighborhood, but would be a not so fun commute if you’re headed to UIC. That being said, I think anywhere within the city would be chill. Stereotypically, most nightlife is on the north side, it is also a much whiter, privileged, and gentrified part of the city. South side is more diverse, less nightlife, but not abesnt, and more affordable. If I were going to UIC, I wouldn’t want to go north of Ukrainian Village/Noble Square (commute south on the 90/94 is brutal) it’s doable if you have a reason to be north (ie family, partner, etc) but not ideal

[emhafe]

This is my first Chicago winter (I live in North Chicago). Everyone keeps telling me that it hasn't been bad (so far). I did invest in a really nice heavy coat before I came. One of my professors gave us a winter pep talk and emphasized not wearing your heaviest winter coat until it's really cold. It's the wind that makes life miserable. 

 

I will say I find myself less motivated to do these in the winter evenings, but I do think I've adjusted pretty well. If everyone else can do it, I can do it! 

[cremy07]

On 2/23/2018 at 10:42 AM, AllieKat said:

Hey, everyone! I'm a Southerner considering attending Northwestern (Evanston campus, but I'd like to live in North Chicago). Just wondering what life in the city is like in the winter. Do people just sort of hole up inside and try to bear it, or are there fun parts to the cold months?

There's plenty of fun to be had in the colder months, it's just a different set of activities than in the summer. Comedy, music, theater, and drinking never stop, and depending on your interests you can find some pretty wonderful winter-specific activities. Some more popular winter activities include things like skating in the park, the Christkindle Market (which is fun even if you don't really do the Christmas thing), Zoo Lights, TBOX (if you're into the Wrigleyville scene), etc. Many museums have free or discount days in the winter and the regular city life - music, comedy, theater, bars, great restaurants, nerdy meetups, midnight showings, etc. - is still thriving. There aren't as many street festivals as you'll find in the summer, but it's a great city year-round if you can take a little bit of a chill. 

If you're going to Northwestern and living in the city, you'll probably end up somewhere in Rogers Park, Edgewater, or Uptown. These are really fun parts of the city that have been growing and changing a considerable amount in recent years. That also puts you close to both Northwestern and Loyola, so there will be other grad students around looking to hang out and burn off some stress. Come join us - you're going to love it!

[Policy.Planner.NYC]

I'll likely be attending U Chicago for my MPP (Harris) next fall. Assuming that I can incorporate Metra into my travels, how crazy is it to live in a north/northwestern neighborhood like Lakeview, Logan Square, or Wicker Park while studying at U Chicago? I'm coming to Chicago from NYC and I really found that Hyde Park really lacks the atmosphere I've become accustomed to over the past 6-7 years in NYC. Even Morningside Heights where I spent 4 years as an undergrad at Columbia feels more vibrant/urban than Hyde Park. 

[deshypothequiez]

I will very likely be moving to Chicago to attend Northwestern and am trying to get a sense of the livability/commute from various neighborhoods. I know Rogers Park is a popular one (we even had current students take us on a walking tour), but I'm kinda eyeing places off the express Purple stops. As a queer Asian American I'm especially curious about the area around Belmont (due to its proximity to Boystown) and Wilson (due to its proximity to "New Chinatown"/Little Saigon). Is it likely to find a room to rent out (not a 1br or studio) in either of those areas for ~$700/mo, and does anyone have experience with/advice about the commute to NU from there during peak or off-peak hours? Also, any advice for places to look for rooms other than Craigslist and Facebook groups?